Folding article of furniture



March 19, 1935.

O. KAYSER FOLDING ARTICLE oF FURNITURE Filed Jan. 31, 1933 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 FOLDINGARTIQLE on FURNITURE Gtto Kayser, Berlin, 'Germany Alplicatin Januarysi, 1933, serial 1510.654518 Y In Germany February v3, 1932 e claims. (c1. 311-83) `My invention relates to folding .articles of furniture, such asY a folding table which .may be used by travellers, Vpathiinders, sporting people,

etc.

Itis an object.. of myinvention to provide anv article, and particularly a table, which is readily portable, handy, easily lerected and as easily folded, and stable in erected condition, so that it will not collapse under the influence of shocks and vibrations.

The aforesaid properties have never been-combinedin the articles as designed heretofore.

With thel object of myinvention in mind, I

provide a top and a bottom member in combina'- tion withfour frames, each with a pair of paralhas,V two parallel legs, is pivotedat its free end to the free end of the frame which at its other end is pivoted to the bottomplate. The frames which are pivoted to the top and bottornplates' at the left, are similarly connected so-that the,

frames pivoted to opposite sides of Vthe same member or plate, are arranged crosswise. A locking member which may be athird plateis pivoted to one of the frames at one end and adapted.

to be anchored to that frame which extends crosswise to the frame to which the locking member is pivoted.

In the accompanying drawing, a folding table embodying my invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and

Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe erected table,

Fig. 3 is a plan view, and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the folded table,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevationl of n a modification, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan View of Fig. 5.

Referring now to thev drawing, and. first to Figs. 1 to 4, the table has a top plate 1 and a bottom plate 2. The two plates are-connected by four frames each having a pair of parallel legs 5 or 6. The frames 5, 5 and 6, 6 are pivoted to the top plate 1 at 5a and 6a, and to the bottom plate 2 at 5b and 6b. Their inner ends are pivotaliy connected by cross bars 3 and 4.

It will appear that, as explained above, the frame 6., 6 which is pivoted to the top plate 1 at the right, at 6a, and to the corresponding frame at 3, crosseslwith the frame 5, 5 which is pivoted to the top plate 1 at the left, at 5a, andto the correspondingframeat 4.v i 1 Where twoof the legs cross, means 'are` provided for guiding Vthem with respect to, each other and for limiting the height of the erected. table. -One of the legs, in the` present instance the leg 5, has a'pin Vl which engages a slot or groove 8 of the other' leg v6.K When thetable is erectedthe pins 7 bear, on the vends of, the slots 0r grooves 6 Yso thatV the Arelativeangular v movement of the legs, and thereby the height of.V the erected table, is limited. f Y v vMeans must be provided'for locking the erected table against collapsing. The locking member isa plate 9 which is pivoted to the -leg s5, 5, of the upper frame at and has holes'` llljfor` the reception of bolts l2 on a rib 3a. of the transverse bar 3. lThe locking member might also be anchored directly on the bar 3.

'14 are links which are pivotedV to thewleg-` 5,5/

to which the locking member Y9 is pivoted at 10,9'.

and jare slots in the llinks whichengage pins 1,3,on the locking member 9, so Vthat the pinspand l linksV Will not interfere with the foldingfof the table. l I

VThe locking member is preferably designed as a plate so that articles may be placed on it but it might also be a frame, or of any other design. The base plate 2 may also servefor thereceptionv of articles but it need not be a plate either. Y

By designing a folding table in the manner described, with only two framespivotedto each plate 1 and 2, permits attaining the usual height of the table while making the legs 5, 6 of the frames so short that they do not project beyond the plates 1 and 2 when the` table is folded, vas shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

One of the transverse `bars may serve as a handle for carrying the foldedtable. In the example illustrated in Fig. 4, the bar 4 is the handie, and the platesd, 2 and 9 are cut away at 16 to make room for the hand. Obviously, the bar 4 might be crooked for the same purpose.V

' Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the rib 3a on the transverse bar 3 is dispensed with and the Vbolts 12a are secured directly on the transverse bar 3, and equipped with annular groves 12d. The plate or locking member 9 is without the holes l1V and instead is equipped with spring catches. 11b are rails at the sides of the plate 9 which are perforated for the reception of the pins 10 at their innerrends, and bent over at right angles at their outer ends 11a for engaging the boltsV 12a. 12e are blocks at the sides of the plate f 9 and 12b are springs which are secured to the blocks 12e by screws 12f and engage the grooves 12d in the bolts 12a by means of projections 12c. Only one of the bolts 12a and its catch are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but it is understood that the members are duplicated at the other side of the plate 9. The projections 12e prevent lifting of the plate 9. When it is desired to lift the plate the springs 12b are pressed to move the projections 12e out of the grooves 12d ofthe bolts 12a. When the table is erected the springs are forced aside by the rounded heads ofl the bolts 12a whereupon they automatically engage the grooves 12d.

For erecting the table the top` plate 1 is heldv and the base plate 2 will now fall down until the pins 7 of the legs 5 engage Ythe ends of the grooves 8 in the legs 6. By means of the links '1,4 the locking member 9 enters the spacebetween the upper pin 7 and the bar 3, engaging the bolts 12 or 12a with its holes 11 orspring catches 12b, 12c,fas the case may be, and-holding the table inlits erected position by preventing the bars- 3 and 4 from moving apart. To fold the table the locking plate 9 is thrown out of engagement with the bolts 12 or 12a and a slight pressure is exerted on the top plate 1. The table now collapses and ready to be carried by the bar 4, or to b stowed away in a'trunk, a handbag, etc.

I My novel table is particularly suitable for serving railway passengers. Y The automatic locking of the table by the plate 9 permits serving dishes on th'e'fold'ed table as on a tray, and to erect the table before the passenger so` that the dishes, glasses, etc., are Ypresented to him. Things that are not wanted on the top plate 1, such as empty bottles'and the like, may be placed on the locking plate9 and/or the bottom plate 2'.

1. In a. folding article of furniture, a top and a bottom member, four frames each including 'a f pair of parallel legs,geach frame -being pivoted to Y one of said members at one end, and to the frame which'is pivoted to the other member in the corthe other plate in' the corresponding' position, at' the other end, so that the frames pivoted to the same plate cross, an automatic locking member pivoted to one of said frames, and anchoring means for said member on the crossing frame.

3. In a folding article of furniture, a top and a bottom member, four frames each including a pair of parallel legs, each frame being pivoted to one of said members at one end, and to the frame which is pivoted to the other member in the corresponding position, at the other end, so that the frames pivoted to the same member cross, means operatively connecting said frames at the cross- `ing points for limiting the relative angular displacement of vsaid frames, an automatic locking member pivoted to one of said frames, and anchoring means for said locking member on the crossingk frame.

4. In a folding article of furniture, a top and a bottom member, four frames each including a pair of Yparallel legs, each` frame being pivoted to oneof said members at one end, and to the frame which is pivoted to the other member in the corresponding position,.at the other end, Iso that ythe framespivoted to the same member cross, an automaticv locking member pivoted to one of said frames, ay link, Valso pivoted on this frame, for guiding said locking member, and anchoring means for said locking member on the crossing frame.

5. In a folding article of furniture, a topand a bottom member, four frames each including a pair of parallel legs; each .frame being pivoted to one of said membersrat one end, and to the frame whichis pivoted to the other member inthe corresponding position, at the other end, so that the frames pivoted tothe same members cross, a transverse bar forming part of the pivotal connection of the other ends of said frames and adapted to serve as a handle, an automatic lock-Y ing` member pivoted to one of said frames, and anchoring means for said member on the crossing frame.` Y

6. A folding table comprising a topy plate, a bottomplate,` four frames arranged as crossed legs andV connected to the plates, a locking mem be'rconnected to the frames, and a sliding connection between each pair of crossing frames for controlling and limiting theV movements of the same; Y

i O'I'IO KAYSER. 

